Victor Osimhen insists Galatasaray can 'hurt' Liverpool at Anfield in second leg
CommentsSportRichard Garnett Central Audience Sport Content Editor14:46, 11 Mar 2026Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen has talked up his team's chances of holding off a second-leg Champions League fightback from Liverpool at Anfield next week.
And the Nigerian international believes that the Turkish Super Lig champions have what it takes to "hurt" their hosts in their own backyard, even though away fans have been banned from attending the fixture.
Liverpool headed into the first leg in Istanbul as clear favourites, but after squandering a clutch of early chances, they ended up on the receiving end of a 1-0 scoreline after Mario Lemina headed home in the seventh minute.
Osimhen, who won Serie A while playing for former club Napoli, set up the game's only goal with an uncontested header and remained a constant danger throughout the 90 minutes amid a deafening atmosphere.
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Speaking to broadcaster TNT after the match, he said: "We are a family together with the Galatasaray fans. We did a very good job today. I think we can hurt Liverpool in the second leg. We have done a good job so far."
Galatasaray completed a league and cup double last season and are leading the way at the top of their domestic table once more - four points ahead of fierce rivals Fenerbahce.
Osimhen joined The Lions on loan from Napoli in 2024, going on to become the Super Lig's top scorer before agreeing a permanent contract in July 2025, despite interest from several top European sides.
The 27-year-old goal-getter has built a close relationship with the club's supporters and was moved to tears before the match got underway when fans unveiled a large tifo in the crowd depicting him holding his children with his late mother watching over him.
Below the tifo was a banner that read 'We are family and family is everything'.
Speaking about his relationship with the club's fans, Osimhen added: "I have been very happy since I arrived in this jersey. This jersey is very special. I wanted to do my best for these fans. I lost my mother at a very young age. That's why it's very important to me."
Osimhen has 18 goals in 27 appearances in all competitions for Galatasaray this season, with seven of them arriving in the Champions League.
The round of 16 second leg takes place at Anfield on Wednesday, March 18 (8pm kick-off). The winners will face Chelsea or defending champions Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals.